Even today, the 2004 Honda CR-V can be a solid contender if you’re looking for a practical, affordable SUV—and who doesn’t love a vehicle that comes equipped with a picnic table in the cargo area? But if you’re hoping to keep yours around for the long haul, it might help to know its engine oil capacity, which is 4.4 quarts.

The 2004 Honda CR-V has an engine oil capacity of 4.4 quarts.
You’ll want to change your CR-V’s engine oil every 10,000 miles.
Knowing your car’s engine oil capacity can help you change your oil.

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2004 Honda CR-V engine oil capacity

The 2004 Honda CR-V has an engine oil capacity of 4.4 quarts, or about 4.2 liters.

While that amount doesn’t necessarily need to be exact when you change your oil, it should be close—overfilling or underfilling your engine with oil can result in serious damage.

Also, try not to confuse the engine oil capacity with the “2.4L” in your 2.4L four-cylinder engine—this measurement is your

engine displacement

, and it doesn’t have anything to do with your oil capacity.

What kind of oil does a 2004 Honda CR-V need?

It’s just as important, if not more so, to get your vehicle’s oil type right. The 2004 Honda CR-V requires premium grade 5W-20 detergent oil.

If you’re new to oil types, this set of numbers is your oil viscosity. It gives you information about the oil’s consistency under different temperature conditions. Smaller numbers imply that the oil is thinner. The “5,” placed next to the “W” for “winter,” tells you your oil’s viscosity under cold temperatures before you’ve started your engine. Meanwhile, the “20” tells you its viscosity once it reaches normal engine operating temperatures.

Synthetic oil is okay to use as well—and it tends to perform better than conventional oil, too.

“Detergent oil” implies additives have been added for certain purposes, like protection against rust and sludge build-up, but avoid adding extra engine oil additives of your own, since these could counteract what’s already in the oil’s formula and cause lasting damage to your engine, transmission, or other parts of your vehicle.

Honda recommends using Honda Motor Oil as a first choice, but what’s most important is that you pick an option that has the right viscosity grade and that it has an API certification seal on the label, which implies it meets the necessary quality standards.

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How often to change the oil on a 2004 Honda CR-V

The 2004 Honda CR-V owner’s manual generally recommends

changing your engine oil

every 10,000 miles or at least once a year—whichever comes first.

That said, depending on what kinds of driving conditions are typical for you, you may need to change your oil sooner than you’d typically expect—such as if you were spending a lot of time driving on dusty gravel roads or up and down steep mountain inclines.

That’s why it’s important to periodically check your engine oil’s level and condition to make sure it’s still in good shape. If your 2004 Honda CR-V is due for an oil change, here are some signs you might notice:

Engine oil is dark brown or black (fresh engine oil is more of a light, translucent brown)

Engine oil has a

grainy or gritty texture

Rough-running engine

Declining fuel economy

Burning or oil odors

Knocking or other strange noises from the engine

Check engine light

, low oil pressure light, or other related indicator lights turn on

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How to change your oil and oil filter

Once you’ve reached the point where it’s time for another oil change, it’s time to gather your supplies. Those will likely include:

Socket wrench

Oil filter wrench

Funnel

Drain pan

Gloves and protective eyewear

New oil filter

New washer for the drain bolt

Fresh 5W-20 engine oil

Once you have everything you need, you can get started by running your engine briefly until it reaches its normal operating temperature. This should only take a few minutes, and it will heat up the engine oil, which will make it easier to drain.

Next, you can pop the hood open on your CR-V, unscrew your oil fill cap, and proceed with the following steps:

Underneath the engine, remove the oil drain bolt and washer, letting the old oil empty into the drain pan

Remove the oil filter and replace it with a new one, following its package instructions

Once the oil finishes draining, reinstall the drain bolt with a new washer and tighten it to 33 lb-ft

Back at the hood of your CR-V, add new engine oil to the proper level

Replace the oil fill cap

Once you’ve made it this far, most of the major work is out of the way! From here, it’s time for a quality assurance check.

Let the engine run for several minutes again, checking around for any leaks and confirming your low oil pressure indicator light has turned off. If all is in good working order, you can shut off the engine, and when it cools, you can check the oil level with your dipstick one last time, adding more if necessary.

Lastly, you’ll need to transfer the used oil to a sealed container and properly recycle it—it’s a hazardous material, so you can’t just dispose of it anywhere. Most municipalities have designated locations that will accept it, and some auto shops or dealership service centers will take it off your hands, too.

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